Banjo



(No Model.)

G. ROBINSON. BANJO.

, No. 448,674. Patented Mar. 24, 1891.

, PE4. ifi-111.3.

GAD ROBINSON, OF BOSTON, Mi/ISSAOIIUSF'ITS.

BANJO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,674, dated March 24, 1891.

Application llcd October 11,1890. Serial No. 367,850. (No model.)

To all whom it '1n/ay concern:

Be it known that I, GAD ROBINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banj os,of which the following, taken in connection with thc accompanying drawings, is a specification.

rlhe object of my invention is to produce a banjo that will give forth more distinct, clearer, fuller, and longer sounds than ban j os of ordinarjT construction; and the invention consists in forming the ring of the body of the banjo of metal with a groove or recess in its upper edge, in which is fitted a resonant ring over which the head is stretched in the ordinary manner.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a plan or top view of a ring 'for the body of a banjo embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same drawn to a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a plan or top view of a resonantrin g that iits into the groove of the body-ring.` Fig. nl, is a side view of the same. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a banjo embodying my invention. Fig. G is a side View of a modified form of resonant ring. Fig. 7 is a view looliing at the under side of same.

A represents the metallic ring or hoop, which at its upper and lower edges is provided with an inward projection av I). In the projection a is formed a groove o, in which the resonant ring rcsts.

The resonant ring IS, I prefer to make of the forni shown in Figs. 3 and a-that is, of flat metal perforated around its circumference with holes (l, and having a bead or projection e at its upper edge; or, if desired, the ring might be formed as shown in Figs. (i and 7, in which B is the ring, and b' b studs cast in one therewith and arranged around the ring at equal distances apart, the points of which studs rest in the groove c of the mctallic hoop or ring A.

O is the head of the banjo, E the tighten ing-ring, and F the tightening-screws, which are of ordinary construction.

3y means of the metallic ring or hoop A and the resonant ring B, I am enabled to produce much finer, louder, and more distinct tones than with banjos of ordinary construction.

lYhat I claim as my invention isl. In a banjo, a metallic ring or hoop A, having an inward projection at its upper and lower edges and a groove or recess in the upper projection, substantialljT as set forth.

2. In a banjo, a metallic ring` or hoop having an inward projection at its upper and lower edges and a groove or recess in the upper projection, in combination with a metallic resonant ring resting in said groove, a head, and a tightening ring and screws for stretching said head, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this lst day of October, A. D. 1890.

GAD ROBINSOX.

Witnesses:

L. W. Howes, EDWIN PLANTA. 

